You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Scan barcode
kurumipanda's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Self harm, Suicide, Torture, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Fatphobia, Gun violence, Infidelity, Sexism, Violence, Blood, Grief, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Body shaming, Eating disorder, and Stalking
betweentheshelves's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
However, I did appreciate the critiques on the K-Pop/entertainment industry and the expectations that are thrown on teen girls in particular. Sunny struggles with the expectations, especially coming from her mom. It's definitely something that negatively affects her mental health as well. Using the horror genre to explore those sorts of topics definitely works in this case.
If you like darker horror/thriller books, this might definitely be for you! It does wrap up at the end, but there's space left for a sequel (which I guess is happening eventually). We'll see if I read the next one!
Graphic: Body horror, Death, and Gore
Moderate: Suicide, Torture, and Grief
Minor: Body shaming, Bullying, and Cursing
olivesandashes's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
this is a sapphic thriller inspired by the k-pop industry, but k-pop actually doesn't play as big of a role as i expected. it's very unlike any other k-pop-inspired story that i've read (in a good way!). the story was immediately chilling and mysterious, and i didn't expect to be drawn in so quickly! it alternates between the past and present, which i enjoyed. there is some romance (and a lot of tension) but it isn't the focus
thank you to BookishFirst and Roaring Brook Press for the copy of this book!
Graphic: Body horror, Gore, and Violence
Moderate: Suicide
booksmoviesandstories's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment
devynreadsnovels's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Child death, Death, Gore, Infidelity, Self harm, Sexual violence, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Torture, Abandonment, and Dysphoria
likeagilmoregirl's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
The story centers around Sunny, a fallen-from-grace star, as she navigates the gruesome incidents happening to the girls she’s competing with in a K-Pop competition. A completion she joined to reunite with her estranged best friend (and former co-star) Candie who disappeared from her life after the tragic loss of their other friend and co-star, Mina.
Told in alternating chapters of Then and Now, the competition continues as the number of victims grows and the past events leading up to Sunny and Candie’s estrangement are unraveled.
Filled with drama, scandal, and gore, Gorgeous Gruesome Faces is a fantastic example of YA Thrillers. I loved the concept and the writing.
This book ended up being 4 stars for me because I felt that while the novel as a whole was structured well, the pace of the novel fluctuated inconsistently. Some parts felt more rushed than I found myself hoping them to be. And there were moments I felt that I had missed something or wished that more time had been spent detailing some events or character relationships.
I was given the chance to read this book in audiobook format and the narrator was fantastic!
Overall, Gorgeous Gruesome Faces is a wonderful, fun read that I would recommend to anyone who enjoys YA thrillers. Especially with a little scandal involved.
*Huge thanks to Linda Cheng, Macmillan Audio, and Netgalley for providing the ARC of Gorgeous Gruesome Faces in audiobook format*
Graphic: Death, Gore, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body horror, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Toxic friendship
caseythereader's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
- GORGEOUS GRUESOME FACES is a YA thriller that combines K-pop glitter with Chinese mythology.
- I love a book that explores some of the traumas of fame, especially for young people, and that is woven into the larger supernatural mystery of this book.
- I didn't realize this book was the first in a series until I got to the end, and I'm excited to see where Cheng takes this next.
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Child death, Death, Gore, Suicide, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Stalking, Murder, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
hahafool's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Self harm, Suicide, Violence, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Bullying and Cursing
myuh's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Body horror, Suicide, Violence, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Grief, Stalking, and Sexual harassment
danscoada's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Gorgeous Gruesome Faces is a fast-paced thriller set in an Americanized K-pop training facility. It gets rather gory at times and made me cringe more than once. If you're expecting this to be a behind-the-scenes, exposé type of narrative about the K-pop industry, you might be disappointed. Like I said, the training camp is Americanized, but it also merely acts as the setting. The mystery and horror of the story really has nothing to do with music at all.
I was engaged from beginning to end and was curious how it would all end up. I wasn't disappointed, but I did walk away forgetting a lot of what happened. It was a fun ride, but sadly not one that I see sticking with me for a while.
Graphic: Body horror